Garner Valley is placed between the sky islands of San Jacinto (10,833′) and Santa Rosa (8,717′) in southern Riverside County. My first visit here was June of 2011 with the San Diego Natural History Museum science team. I’d driven past our camping spot at Morris Creek many times when driving to Idyllwild, only nine miles away, to spend a day or two enjoying the upper elevations in Southern California. It hadn’t occurred to me that I should explore this valley during those visits.
The science team’s mission was to resurvey sites studied by Joseph Grinnell and Harry Swarth a hundred years ago. Garner Valley was one of their camps. I followed the team here and discovered the location for myself. My first meeting with Pinyon Jays happened on this visit. I collected as many photos of subjects as I could, hoping that they might help tell the story of the museum’s restudy mission.
Following the camp-out date with the science team I visited again on June 2012, June 2014, and October 2014. Pinyon Jays were my primary target during my June visits, but as a bonus I found Western Kingbird parents feeding a nestling that had fallen to the ground from the nest.
The gallery below shows some of the images I captured during these visits.
Mountain Quail(Oreortyx pictus) |
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Description: Papa quail had his family nearby in the Garner Valley Site for the SDNHM 100 re-study of the San Jacinto - Santa Rosa region. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:06:27 12:11 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD0195-MountainQuail |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake(Crotalus oreganus helleri) |
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Description: This snake was very vulnerable as it was swallowing its Brush Rabit kill. Garner Valley Site for the SDNHM 100 re-study of the San Jacinto - Santa Rosa region. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:06:27 12:27 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD0214-SouthernPacificRattleSnake-EatingRabbit |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Juvenile begging behavior. Garner Valley Site for the SDNHM 100 re-study of the San Jacinto - Santa Rosa region. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:06:27 12:39 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD0240-PinyonJay |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pygmy Nuthatch(Sitta pygmaea) |
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Description: These birds were found in Garner Valley, in the vicinity of Lake Hemet., Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:06:09 12:57 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X2790-PygmyNuthatch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pygmy Nuthatch(Sitta pygmaea) |
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Description: These birds were found in Garner Valley, in the vicinity of Lake Hemet., Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:06:09 13:05 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X2849-PygmyNuthatch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Garner Valley, in the vicinity of Lake Hemet., Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:06:09 13:07 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X2872-TurkeyVulture |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cliff Swallow(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) |
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Description: Bringing food to the nest in Garner Valley, in the vicinity of Lake Hemet., Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:06:09 14:37 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X2937-CliffSwallow |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: This parent bird had fledglings on the ground along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:29 18:35 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X5845-PinyonJay |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Parent bird keeping an eye on its fledgling on the ground. Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:29 18:35 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5857-PinyonJay |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: This parent bird had fledglings on the ground along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:29 18:36 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5859-PinyonJay |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Barely fledged, and still being fed by the parents, these birds begin to find their own food 8 days after leaving the nest. Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:29 18:38 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X5880-PinyonJay-Chick |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Barely fledged, and still being fed by the parents, these birds begin to find their own food 8 days after leaving the nest. Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:29 18:40 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5893-PinyonJay-Chick |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Barely fledged, and still being fed by the parents, these birds begin to find their own food 8 days after leaving the nest. Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:29 18:43 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X5916-PinyonJay-Chick |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: This parent was feeding a pre-flight age baby who'd fallen from the nest along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 8:26 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5956-WesternKingBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: This parent was feeding a pre-flight age baby who'd fallen from the nest along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 8:27 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5972-WesternKingBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Parent bird preparing to feed grounded nestling. Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 8:27 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5976-WesternKingBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Parent feeding chick that must have fallen from its nest. Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 8:27 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5981-WesternKingBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Barely fledged, and still being fed by the parents, these birds begin to find their own food 8 days after leaving the nest. Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 11:21 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: D3X6044-PinyonJay-Chick |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Barely fledged, and still being fed by the parents, these birds begin to find their own food 8 days after leaving the nest. Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 11:22 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X6049-PinyonJay-Chick |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
White-Crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia leucophrys) |
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Description: Adult bird seen along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California USA 2014-10-23.lifornia. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:23 8:54 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1431-WhiteCrownedSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Dark-Eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis) |
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Description: Resident bird found along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:23 9:35 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X1450-DarkEyedJunco |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Dark-Eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis) |
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Description: Resident bird found along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:23 9:37 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X1458-DarkEyedJunco |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet(Regulus calendula) |
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Description: Autumn visitor found along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:23 10:08 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X1461-RubyCrownedKinglet |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Mountain Chickadee(Poecile gambeli) |
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Description: Resident bird found along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:23 10:15 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X1497-MountainChickadee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
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Description: Resident bird found along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:23 10:38 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1539-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Oak Titmouse(Baeolophus inornatus) |
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Description: Resident bird found along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:23 10:45 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X1566-OakTitmouse |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
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Description: Resident bird found along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:23 10:55 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1609-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Sharp-Shinned Hawk(Accipiter striatus) |
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Description: Autumn visitor found along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:23 11:43 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X1636-SharpShinnedHawk |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
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